Thomas Browne - The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3

Thirdly, If Rachel had any such intention, yet had they no such effect, for she conceived not many years after of Joseph ; whereas in the mean time Leah had three children, Isachar , Zebulon and Dinah .

Lastly, Although at that time they failed of this effect, yet is it mainly questionable whether they had any such vertue either in the opinions of those times, or in their proper nature. That the opinion was popular in the land of Canaan , it is improbable, and had Leah understood thus much, she would not surely have parted with fruits of such a faculty; especially unto Rachel , who was no friend unto her. As for its proper nature, the Ancients have generally esteemed in Narcotick or stupefactive, and it is to be found in the list of poysons, set down by Dioscorides , Galen , Ætius , Ægineta , and several Antidotes delivered by them against it. It was I confess from good Antiquity, and in the days of Theophrastus accounted a philtre, or plant that conciliates affection; and so delivered by Dioscorides . And this intent might seem most probable, had they not been the wives of holy Jacob : had Rachel presented them unto him, and not requested them for her self.

Now what Dioscorides affirmeth in favour of this effect, that the grains of the apples of Mandrakes mundifie the matrix, and applied with Sulphur, stop the fluxes of women, he overthrows again by qualities destructive unto conception; affirming also that the juice thereof purgeth upward like Hellebore; and applied in pessaries provokes the menstruous flows, and procures abortion. Petrus Hispanus , or Pope John the twentieth speaks more directly in his Thesaurus pauperum : wherein among the receits of fecundation, he experimentally commendeth the wine of Mandrakes given with Triphera magna . But the soul of the medicine may lie in Triphera magna , an excellent composition, and for this effect commended by Nicolaus . And whereas Levinus Lemnius that eminent Physitian doth also concede this effect, it is from manifest causes and qualities elemental occasionally producing the same. For he imputeth the same unto the coldness of that simple, and is of opinion that in hot climates, and where the uterine parts exceed in heat, by the coldness hereof they may be reduced into a conceptive constitution, and Crasis accommodable unto generation; whereby indeed we will not deny the due and frequent use may proceed unto some effect, from whence notwithstanding we cannot infer a fertilitating condition or property of fecundation. For in this way all vegetables do make fruitful according unto the complexion of the Matrix; if that excel in heat, plants exceeding in cold do rectifie it; if it be cold, simples that are hot reduce it; if dry moist, if moist dry correct it; in which division all plants are comprehended. But to distinguish thus much is a point of Art, and beyond the Method of Rachels or feminine Physick. Again, Whereas it may be thought that Mandrakes may fecundate, since Poppy hath obtained the Epithite of fruitful, and that fertility was Hieroglyphically described by Venus with an head of Poppy in her hand; the reason hereof was the multitude of seed within it self, and no such multiplying in humane generation. And lastly, whereas they may seem to have this quality, since Opium it self is conceived to extimulate unto venery, and for that intent is sometimes used by Turks , Persians , and most oriental Nations; although Winclerus doth seem to favour the conceit, yet Amatus Lusitanus , and Rodericus à Castro are against it; Garcias ab horto refutes it from experiment; and they speak probably who affirm the intent and effect of eating Opium, Opium, of what effect in venery. it not so much to invigorate themselves in coition, as to prolong the Act, and spin out the motions of carnality.

Three magi or wise men (Mat. 2.) What manner of Kings they were.

A common conceit there is of the three Kings of Collein , conceived to be the wise men that travelled unto our Saviour by the direction of the Star, Wherein (omitting the large Discourses of Baronius , Pineda and Montacutius ,) that they might be Kings, beside the Ancient Tradition and Authority of many Fathers, the Scripture also implieth. The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. The Kings of Tharsis and the Isles, the Kings of Arabia and Saba shall offer gifts, which places most Christians and many Rabbins interpret of the Messiah . Not that they are to be conceived potent monarchs, or mighty Kings; but Toparks, Kings of Cities or narrow Territories; such as were the Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah , the Kings of Jericho and Ai , the one and thirty which Joshuah subdued, and such as some conceive the Friends of Job to have been.

But although we grant they were Kings, yet can we not be assured they were three. For the Scripture maketh no mention of any number; and the numbers of their presents, Gold, Myrrhe and Frankincense, concludeth not the number of their persons; for these were the commodities of their Country, and such as probably the Queen of Sheba in one person had brought before unto Solomon . So did not the sons of Jacob divide the present unto Joseph , but are conceived to carry one for them all, according to the expression of their Father – Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present. And therefore their number being uncertain, what credit is to be given unto their names, Gasper , Melchior , Balthazar , what to the charm thereof against the falling sickness,Gaspar fert myrrham, etc. or what unto their habits, complexions, and corporal accidents, we must rely on their uncertain story, and received pourtraits of Collein .

Lastly, Although we grant them Kings, and three in number, yet could we not conceive that they were Kings of Collein . For though Collein were the chief City of the Ubii , then called Ubiopolis , and afterwards Agrippina , yet will no History inform us there were three Kings thereof. Beside, these being rulers in their Countries, and returning home, would have probably converted their subjects: but according unto Munster , their conversion was not wrought until seventy years after by Maternus a disciple of Peter . And lastly, it is said that the wise men came from the East; but Collein is seated West-ward from Jerusalem ; for Collein hath of longitude thirty four degrees, but Jerusalem seventy two.

And why of Collein.

The ground of all was this. These wise men or Kings, were probably of Arabia , and descended from Abraham by Keturah , who apprehending the mystery of this Star, either by the Spirit of God, the prophesie of Balaam , the prophesie which Suetonius mentions, received and constantly believed through all the East, that out of Jury one should come that should rule the whole world: or the divulged expectation of the Jews from the expiring prediction of Daniel : were by the same conducted unto Judea , returned unto their Country, and were after baptized by Thomas . From whence about three hundred years after, by Helena the Empress their bodies were translated to Constantinople . From thence by Eustatius unto Millane, and at last by Renatus the Bishop unto Collein : where they are believed at present to remain, their monuments shewn unto strangers, and having lost their Arabian titles, are crowned Kings of Collein .